“Why?”
“Because I told Eldest Brother and Second Brother about Zhao Aniu’s family. Second Brother was very frightened. I understand Second Brother—he will resist such matters in the future.” Ming Zhouhe straightened his back.
Shi Jianli nodded slightly.
The Duke’s Manor did not necessarily have to form another marriage alliance with the Yuan family. Under these circumstances, anyone with a slightly clear mind would not dare to take such a gamble. As the saying goes, distant cousins are still considered relatives, even beyond the fifth degree of kinship. Some cousins are not closely related by blood but can still be called cousins, and not all marriages between cousins involve true blood relations.
Ming Zhouhe asked again, “Are you hungry?”
“No, I ate quite a bit and don’t feel like having dinner.”
“Then let’s go back and rest. I thought if you said you were hungry, I’d go with you to Mother’s place for dinner.” After saying this, Ming Zhouhe turned onto another path and left.
The next evening, when Yuan Wan arrived, Madam Yuan took her daughter’s hand and sat by the bed, dismissing the servants.
Seeing her mother’s cautious demeanor, Yuan Wan was puzzled. “Mother, what do you want to discuss with me? Why all the secrecy?”
“What secrecy? Don’t speak so crudely.” Madam Yuan tapped her daughter’s head. “What do you think of your Second Cousin?”
“He’s quite good. Why do you ask?” Yuan Wan replied instinctively. Noticing her mother’s serious expression, she suddenly understood and blushed. “Mother, are you asking if I like Second Cousin?”
“Exactly. What do you think? The reason I came to the capital with you was to discuss a marriage between you and your Second Cousin with your aunt. If both of you are willing, it would strengthen our family ties.”
“I don’t like Second Cousin.” Yuan Wan shook her head. Thinking of the tall, upright figure she had glimpsed from the carriage on the day of their arrival, her face flushed even redder, and she whispered softly, “I like… Eldest Cousin.”
“This…” Madam Yuan paused. “Tomorrow, I’ll ask your aunt.”
Given their family’s status, it wouldn’t be impossible for Wan’er to become the future mistress of the Duke’s Manor. However, Madam Yuan had never considered it before because Zhou Huan was already betrothed.
“Alright.”
Seeing her daughter’s bashful demeanor, Madam Yuan gripped her hand tightly and spoke earnestly, “This matter is just a private discussion for now—nothing is settled yet. Wan’er, as women, especially noble ladies raised in great families, we must value our dignity and self-respect.”
“If your Eldest Cousin doesn’t favor you, don’t be too persistent, lest it harm the relationship between our families. There are plenty of good men besides your Eldest Cousin. Do you understand?”
Her excitement dampened by this cold shower, Yuan Wan bit her lip and remained silent.
Madam Yuan patted her shoulder and stood up. “I’ll leave now. Think it over carefully.”
Over at Ming Hua Yuan in Dongfu, Yuan Yuhe called her two sons to the courtyard for dinner and had her senior maid Yuye fetch Ming Zhouqing earlier than Jinzhi.
Seeing the servants dismissed, Ming Zhouqing felt puzzled. “Mother, what secret matter requires no one else to be present?”
Yuan Yuhe sat upright, her expression serious. “Qing’er, what do you think of your cousin?”
Seeing his mother like this, Ming Zhouqing also straightened his posture. After listening for a moment, he cautiously asked, “Are you suggesting that I marry my cousin?”
“That is the idea, but it’s not certain.”
Ming Zhouqing was horrified and shook his head repeatedly. “No, no!”
“Why are you reacting so strongly? Is your cousin some kind of monstrous beast?” Yuan Yuhe asked, widening her eyes slightly at her second son’s horrified expression.
“Cousins cannot marry!” Ming Zhouqing declared firmly, echoing Ming Zhouhe’s words.
Hearing that he didn’t actually dislike his niece, Yuan Yuhe found this strange. “Where did you hear such nonsense? Wouldn’t marriage between relatives strengthen family bonds?”
Ming Zhouqing spoke rapidly: “Third Brother said that marriages between cousins often produce deformed children. What if the child my cousin and I have ends up with three legs, two eyes, or tumors growing on its face? Would you have the heart to drown it or keep it despite your affection?”
“Why must you describe it so horrifyingly?” Yuan Yuhe glared at him. “How would your third brother know such things? Cousins have married since ancient times.”
“I’m not trying to scare you—this truly happens.” Ming Zhouqing pulled his chair closer and slowed his speech to dissuade his mother. “Third Brother visited the Farmstead under Second Uncle’s management and saw a family that had three children. The eldest son had shriveled, shortened arms…”
“Really?” Yuan Yuhe listened in stunned silence, growing uneasy.
“It’s true. We might not know about such cases among noble families, but among peasants and the poor, you’ll find examples if you ask around. If you don’t believe me, you can inquire yourself.”
“Look how well Third Brother treats Li Biao Mei. Second Aunt loves Li Biao Mei so much—wouldn’t it be perfect to marry her to Third Brother so he can care for her up close? Why is she arranging separate marriages for them instead? It’s precisely because of this issue.”
“Mother, we don’t necessarily have to marry into Uncle’s family, right?”
After a long pause, Yuan Yuhe nodded. “Pretend I never asked you about this today.”
Seeing that she had abandoned the idea, Ming Zhouqing sighed with relief. “Good, then I’ll take my leave now. Father should be returning soon.”
“Wait—does your Second Aunt know about this?”
“I don’t think so? I only brought up Third Brother and Li Biao Mei to dissuade you. I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn.”
Yuan Yuhe waved her hand. “Go on.”
She remained seated for a while longer, lost in thought, then straightened her sleeves and walked out.
Sigh. With her eldest son’s marriage still unsettled, she now had to worry about finding a suitable bride for her second son.
Since her son had spoken so convincingly, Yuan Yuhe couldn’t simply dismiss his words. Her second son had never lied to her.
While she valued her close relationship with her maternal family, descendants were important too. If she really ended up with a grandchild as her son described, no matter how compassionate she might be, she would still feel uneasy. Such a child would inevitably face strange looks from others—even from her.
So, this matter of strengthening family bonds through marriage had to stop here, cutting off the possibility at its root.
Ming Weisui stepped through the door and noticed his wife’s low spirits. “Madam, what’s wrong? You seem rather unhappy.”
Yuan Yuhe sighed. “I’m worried about our sons’ marriages. Neither is settled—how can I be happy?”
She glanced at her burly husband, muttered under her breath, and walked out: “Can’t expect you to offer any useful advice anyway. Let’s go for dinner. Have Zhaohuan and Lin’er arrived?”
Ming Weisui truly had no suggestions regarding their sons’ marriages, so he simply answered her latter question: “They’re both here.”
After dinner, the two brothers returned together, with Ming Zhouqing following Ming Zhaohuan directly to his courtyard.
“Elder Brother, Mother really wanted me to marry our cousin.”
Ming Zhaohuan removed his bigou and looked at him: “Did you refuse?”
“Of course I refused. After everything Third Brother said, how would I dare to marry our cousin?”
Ming Zhaohuan nodded and smiled: “Then I’m safe too.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, Ming Zhaohuan urged him to return: “Rest early. You have to go to the military camp first thing tomorrow morning.”
But Ming Zhouqing figured it out himself and moved closer. “You mean if our cousin rejects me, the candidate might be changed to you?”